Hello Kitty Tote Bag - Tutorial

So, new post time!!! Hurray!  This is a kind of tutorial for stenciling a tote bag.

 
Hello Kitty Tote Bag!

First off, these pictures are kind of a tutorial that shows how I made this Hello Kitty Tote Bag!  If you want more instructions, the web site I learned from as a sophomore in high school (so that's nearly 5 years ago) is .  Probably one of the best tutorials ever.  Choose all of seethesky's tutorials. It's changed a bit (I haven't looked at it in years.. one time really is enough.)

The materials you will need are as follows:
-T-Shirt / Tote Bag / Something To Paint On
-Freezer Paper
-Printer
-Fabric Paint (You can find this at Wal-Mart, Micheal's, Target - many places.  Craft stores offer more choices.  I use the 99 cent kind from Michael's or whatever is on sale at the time).
-Foam brushes or other paint brushes.  I suggest foam because it leaves less brush strokes.
-Iron
-Extra/Old Newspaper or Paper
-Ironing Board

So first thing first, creating a stencil.  Once again, there are some good  tutorials out there. You can do a few things to prepare the image.  If it is a photography, I use the "Cut Out" filter in Photoshop with 2 colors.  For most things, I just leave the image as is so I can choose where to cut.  If you want to make your own image, I suggest using vector art.  That way if you want to re-use it, you can re-size it at any size.  I use Ilustrator - but I am a student and have to own those programs.

Once you have your stencil ready, you can do one of two things.  My favorite is to cut the Freezer Paper (available in grocery stores, Target, etc) down to the 8.5 by 11 inch paper that printers print on and stick that into the printer.  If you do that, make sure you print onto the non-waxed side.  The paper feel side that isn't glossy is the side that you must have facing upwards when you iron.  So don't print on the waxed side - this may take a few trys to figure out according to your printer.  Or, you can print on normal paper, then somehow adhere that paper to your freezer paper.  With this, I have spray mounted onto the non-waxed side, taped the normal paper to the freezer paper lightly, or just held it in place and hoped for the best (which generally works.

Next you have to cut your stencil.  You can do this with an exacto knife (which requires a cutting surface) or scissors.  There are some complicated issues here, and I will just send you to an external link because it is quite hard to explain.  What are called "Bridges" and "Islands" are an important thing that you probably need to read.  Here is the link.  Be careful when you are cut - and don't hurt yourself!

Next is ironing and painting!  Set your iron to a cotton setting, and let it heat up.  Place your cut stencil on to your fabric.  Usually I put on the shirt (if it's a shirt) and make sure the stencil is in a good place ( not too low/high or something) and with tote bags I just play around. Once you like it, take the iron to it.  With the GLOSSY SIDE DOWN and the PAPER SIDE UP iron in a circular motion for about 30 seconds.  You may need to go longer, depending.  Just make sure your stencil is sticking well to the fabric.  Don't worry, it comes off really easily.

Painting is easy.  For beginning, I suggest one  to two color stencils.  You can just pour the paint on and spread it - that is what I do.  You can paint on the paper which make this easy.  Just make sure you coat it well, but not really thick.  Then you wait.  Some take the paper stencil off right away, but the paint can bleed this was.  Some take it off at the end.  I generally take it off at the end because I find it does give crisper edges.  I wait about 2-3 hours to take stencils off.  Or overnight.

After that, let it dry.  Then, if you have any clean up (like bridges to gap) you can do that with a small paintbrush, q-tip, or something else (I tend to take a pencil and dip it into the paint... which is kind of weird.)  After that dries, you are ready to go!

You can see more of my stencil work in my online portfolio at kitkatherine.info